Defendant Found Not Guilty of Killing Fort Meade Man

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 2:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 2:13 p.m.

BARTOW | A Tampa man accused in the fatal shooting death of a young Fort Meade man on Mother's Day 2011 was found not guilty Thursday.

Brandon Mays, 27, was accused of second-degree murder and had faced a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on that charge. He was charged in the death of Kentavis Ingram, who was 22.

Ingram was shot to death May 8, 2011 while a women's kickball tournament was being held in a park.

In closing arguments Thursday morning before a six-person jury and Circuit Judge Mark Hofstad, it was clear that the testimony of one witness, James Bighems, was critically important. Prosecutor Cory Chastang and defense lawyer Karen Meeks both spent considerable time during their arguments focusing on Bighems.

Bighems testified Tuesday that he heard Mays say he was going to shoot Ingram, and then did it. Bighems said he ran in fear as Ingram, his cousin, was shot again.

“Brandon Mays is the one who shot Kentavis Ingram,” Chastang said.

But Meeks said that everyone involved said the shooting took place near a Dumpster, and blood evidence showed the same thing. Only Bighems said Ingram was shot elsewhere, Meeks said.

“Mr. Bighems testimony didn't agree with anything,” Meeks said.

She said Bighems testified the shooter was standing to Ingram's right, but Medical Examiner Stephen Nelson testified the shooter had to be on Ingram's left.

Ingram was killed by bullets from a 9 mm handgun. Chastang said three bullets from a 9mm handgun were found in Mays' home. Mays had owned a 9 mm but told detectives he had given it to his brother. Investigators found that gun, but it turned out not to be the one used to shoot Ingram.

<p>BARTOW | A Tampa man accused in the fatal shooting death of a young Fort Meade man on Mother's Day 2011 was found not guilty Thursday.</p><p>Brandon Mays, 27, was accused of second-degree murder and had faced a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on that charge. He was charged in the death of Kentavis Ingram, who was 22.</p><p>Ingram was shot to death May 8, 2011 while a women's kickball tournament was being held in a park.</p><p>In closing arguments Thursday morning before a six-person jury and Circuit Judge Mark Hofstad, it was clear that the testimony of one witness, James Bighems, was critically important. Prosecutor Cory Chastang and defense lawyer Karen Meeks both spent considerable time during their arguments focusing on Bighems.</p><p>Bighems testified Tuesday that he heard Mays say he was going to shoot Ingram, and then did it. Bighems said he ran in fear as Ingram, his cousin, was shot again.</p><p>“Brandon Mays is the one who shot Kentavis Ingram,” Chastang said.</p><p>But Meeks said that everyone involved said the shooting took place near a Dumpster, and blood evidence showed the same thing. Only Bighems said Ingram was shot elsewhere, Meeks said.</p><p>“Mr. Bighems testimony didn't agree with anything,” Meeks said. </p><p>She said Bighems testified the shooter was standing to Ingram's right, but Medical Examiner Stephen Nelson testified the shooter had to be on Ingram's left.</p><p>Ingram was killed by bullets from a 9 mm handgun. Chastang said three bullets from a 9mm handgun were found in Mays' home. Mays had owned a 9 mm but told detectives he had given it to his brother. Investigators found that gun, but it turned out not to be the one used to shoot Ingram.</p><p>Which didn't mean Mays didn't have another 9 mm somewhere, Chastang said.</p><p>Witnesses told deputies that the shooter got into a dark Monte Carlo and left. </p><p>But Mays' fingerprints were not found on a car suspected of being the Monte Carlo used by the shooter to get away.</p><p>Jurors took slightly more than an hour to reach their verdict.</p>